Over 7 million Nigerians at risk of floods from Lagdo dam opening

..Urges residents in flood prone areas to relocate
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has announced on that water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon has been released into the River Niger and River Benue in Nigeria’s North Central region.
The Agency urged residents living in flood-prone areas to evacuate to safer locations in anticipation of potential flooding, which typically follows the release of water from the Lagdo Dam.
The Director General NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, disclosed this on Thursday during his appearance on Channels Television’s – The Morning Brief, a breakfast program.
He explained that NIHSA coordinated with Cameroonian authorities to release water from the Lagdo Dam “intermittently” to help manage the volume in the River Benue and River Niger, thereby mitigating flood risks in 11 vulnerable states.
“The situation is that water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam is being released already since yesterday (Wednesday) and there is an agreement that the water should be released in phases,” said Mohammed, who was represented on the programme by the Agency’s Director of Operations and Hydrology, Femi Bejide.
On Tuesday, the Federal Government through NIHSA warned Nigerians about the impending release of water from the Lagdo Dam by Cameroonian authorities.
The agency identified several states at risk of flooding, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers.
NIHSA Director General noted that, for now, there is calm and normalcy, with water levels being regulated from the Lagdo Dam, although currents are beginning to rise.
He emphasized that all Nigerians have a role to play in preventing flooding, as previous releases of water from the Lagdo Dam have led to recurring flood issues in the country.
Mohammed reported that a recommendation has been submitted to the Presidency regarding the necessary de-silting of some dams in Nigeria.
The release of water from the Lagdo Dam follows a recent tragedy where overflowing from the Alau Dam resulted in over 30 fatalities and the destruction of thousands of homes in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
In 2022, severe flooding impacted many states, resulting in 665 deaths, displacing 2,437,411 individuals, and affecting a total of 4,476,867 people, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
In 2023, floods affected 159,157 people, leading to 28 deaths and displacing 48,168. The release of water from the Lagdo Dam was a contributing factor to some of these flooding incidents.
For 2024, NEMA reported that flooding has affected 1,048,312 individuals from April to September, resulting in 625,239 displacements and 259 fatalities.